Meet the Team
Executive Team
Mel Villagracia
President
Lead, Science & Education
A professional marine wildlife educator, Ocean Wise Ambassador, and Heritage Interpreter at the Vancouver Aquarium, Mel is pursuing an Associates of Science in Biology, and has dedicated his life to educating, interpreting, and taking care of the animals he grew up alongside the Canadian Pacific coastline.
Hailing from campus-set North Vancouver, Mel has spent much of his life dedicated to the exploration, education and conservation of marine wildlife, particularly marine mammals. He grew up with a fond love for the sea otters resident at the Vancouver Aquarium, growing up next to them and learning from the professionals that came before him. He has since had the opportunity to grow and work alongside all the organizations and wildlife professionals he once looked up to, spending a large majority of his high school career gaining hands-on experience. Brought up by Ocean Wise as an ambassador contributing marine research and education, and eventually making his way up to be part of what is widely considered one of the most prestigious teams of heritage interpreters in the world at the Vancouver Aquarium, his mission today is to share that love with as many people as he possibly can, in an effort to conserve and protect the species of animals he loves and adores!
In his spare time, you can find Mel knee-deep in the intertidal zones of British Columbia, educating some non-captive audiences about local marine invertebrates and mammals, deeper underwater scuba diving, doing sidequests at random EDM festivals, or listening to Sabrina Carpenter while on a night drive with friends.
E: Mel.Villagracia@wcesociety.org
W: Mel.Villagracia@vanaqua.org
P: +1 (604) 722-6674
Megan Carlson
Secretary
Lead, Activities & Social
An enthusiast for the wildlife along Vancouver Island, and especially our rocky shorelines, Megan is pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies. Her active involvement in wildlife conservation accelerated after taking ENSO 100 in the Fall 2025 semester, where sharing her passion for the outdoors and wildlife felt uplifting, fun and healthy - all while positively impacting our world.
A BC local, raised in White Rock and Vancouver, Megan spent lots life in the outdoors, enjoying many of the activities that the province has to offer. Spending most of her summers on Galiano Island, she and her cousins would often find the beaches and rocky shorelines of British Columbia to be a natural playground, allowing her to develop a want to learn, protect, and love for the wildlife she observed within the sea and sand. A former animal trainer with extensive experience in dog kennel work, her love for all animals grew tremendously over time, particularly after having the opportunity to build bonds with animals beyond her pets at home. An aspiring elementary school teacher, Megan finds fascination and love for children's minds, and believes that youth voices can often be neglected, due to the negative association with the lack of time they have spent on earth. Her mission today is to inspire her peers to use their voices to make a difference, especially those of youth demographics. She aims to foster learning environments where both adults and children will not feel intimidated, but rather, heard, respected, taken into account, and excited to join the active conservation efforts in the world!
In her spare time, Megan can be found camping, snowboarding, or on the water (in any way possible!) She has also previously studied music, and has earned a diploma in Contemporary Music and Technology, with a major in Vocals and Performance from Selkirk College in Nelson, BC; so in her own time, you can find Megan listening to the Beatles and other artists from the early rock days, or learning, writing, and performing songs around British Columbia! (check her out!! @ meganzoemusic.com)
E: Megan.Carlson@wcesociety.org
Cameron Jansen Van Vuuren
Treasurer
Lead, Finance & Records
E: Cameron.Jansenvanvuuren@wcesociety.org
Pursuing a Bachelor of Business Administration and a minor in Environment and Society, Cameron has spent a large portion of her life growing up and spending time around animals and nature, developing a deep love, dedication and passion for sustainable action, to better manage the environment and finite planet that we share with wildlife.
Originating from Botswana, Cameron spent a lot of her time around wildlife and out in nature. Initially doing some of her studies in South Africa, and eventually moving to Canada out of interest in travelling to new places, she grew up on a game farm in Botswana, where many of her holidays were spent exploring places such as the Okavango Delta or the Makgadikgadi Pans, which allowed her to develop a deep appreciation for nature. The farm would also expose her to many of the direct threats to wildlife, as common practice often included removing many of the artificially-planted snares affecting many of the animals she grew up next to, including many critical species to Africa's ecosystems. Her mission today is to develop businesses to strengthen their departments in environmental sustainability, empowering them to make true meaningful change, and not to greenwash their products, as one question stands through her motives: "How can our businesses grow exponentially, on a finite planet?" She believes strongly that if someone has two hands and a heart, a problem can be solved; the only thing you can do is act!
In her spare time, Cameron can be found backcountry hiking and camping, and adapting well to the Canadian practices of snow sports, of which may include acquiring the occasional concussion on Whistler on her snowboard! She also used to study music, and loves playing guitar. She's a fan at large of musicians who find the power to protest through song, and you can find her listening to Bob Dylan, or her personal all-time recommendation to anyone reading this; Joni Mitchell's "Big Yellow Taxi."